THERE'S nothing like a tattoo convention to bring the local freaks out of the shadows - and Colombia's Expo Tattoo Fair was no exception.

The event - which is in its eighth year - attracted plenty of colourful characters, including performance artist Jacob Angel, who made a rather unnerving appearance yesterday.

Getty Images

This man refers to himself as the 'Angel of Death'... and he certainly looks the part

Reuters

Jacob Angel has had his tongue split which gives him a devilish USP

Jacob, who performs under the stage name The Angel of Death, made quite an impression at the event in Medellin.

Striding around the expo wearing little more than a pair of leather wings, a bondage harness and some height-boosting cloven hoof shoes, he really did look like he had come from another dimension.

With his body painted white, and with the addition of some black and white corpse-paint inspired veins running across his bald head and upper body, he could have passed as a Cenobite from Clive Barker's Hellraiser series, or a member of a little-known Norwegian black metal band.

Last year, he performed at the expo, and gave fans a freaky show involving him being suspended on chains attached to hooks that pierced through the skin on his back.

His reputation has even seen him appear on national TV as a "real Colombian vampire".

While his presence was sure to have excited convention-goers, he wasn't the only person there with an extreme look.

Getty Images

Jacob looked like he could be a bass player in a little known Norwegian death metal band

The Colombian can often be found hanging from the ceiling on hooks and chains

Also roaming around the Plaza Mayor exhibition centre was Carlos Dehaquiz, who describes himself as a "professional freak" and body piercer.

The mysterious Colombian looked as hellish and other-worldly as Jacob Angel thanks to his overstretch earlobes, facial tattoos and HORNS.

Reuters

Jacob has previously appeared on Colombian TV as a 'real life vampire'

Reuters

White contact lenses give the Angel of Death an extra spooky edge

Reuters

You wouldn't want to bump in to this guy on a dark street late at night

Carlos showed off some painful and strange looking bulbous lumps on his forehead, which matched small horns he had on each of his temples.

The 'horns' - made from pieces of medically safe plastic surgically inserted beneath the skin - were tattooed around for extra effect.

However, it was Carlos' tattooed EYEBALLS that really made him look demonic.

With the chocolate brown hue of his iris barely noticeable against the black of his eyes, he looked like he had been possessed, or had no eyeballs at all.

EPA

Carlos Dehaquiz is a 'professional freak' - and has horns and tattooed eyeballs

Getty Images

The Colombian also has his TONGUE tattooed as well as huge stretched ear lobes

Getty Images

Carlos was clearly in his element at the tattoo event along others who like to push boundaries of good taste and flesh

Reuters

A side view shows how he has had the whites of his eyes inked to give him a soulless look

Another heavily modified visitor was Sebastian Barrero, who works as a tattoo artist by the moniker of Iverson.

Based in Medellin, he was on hand to check out what people were getting up to, as well as answer questions about his own inkings.

Most read in Living

How do you measure up?

Map reveals average size of erect penises around the world and African blokes come first

MINDBLOWING MOVES

Six oral sex tips you need to know about… from perfecting your technique to why your diet is important

fresh princess

Remember Ashley from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air? You won’t believe what she looks like now

NO NEED TO OVARY-ACT

There are apparently five different types of vagina... so which do YOU have?

Not so selfie-aware

Awkward snaps show people who thought they were posing with celebs... but really weren't

Phone phantom

It's a dating phenomenon that's getting more common in the digital age - but what IS ghosting?

TAKE A GOOD GANDER

Only one in eight people can spot the fox hiding among the geese in this tricky optical illusion

A BRIT NAUGHTY

How long should sex last? Study reveals the average Brits' time between the sheets

Perfect timing

These hilarious photos were taken at the precise moment disaster strikes from rogue waves to baking mishaps

PLEASURE ZONE

Sexpert reveals the one position which is most likely to make a woman orgasm

GREAT BRITISH BUZZ OFF

We rate sex toys from Poundland Bullet to Tango Lipstick to see if discount brands are an anti-climax

controversial tune

Despacito is absolute FILTH in English... here’s what the lyrics really mean

His face is almost entirely covered in tattoos, and even features some strange flesh coloured designs on the inside of his eye and over his right eyelid.

Sebastian is somewhat of a celebrity in Colombia, and recently posted a clip of him featuring in a music video alongside a local singer.

Getty Images

Sebastian Barrero was there to show off his heavily patterned face

Getty Images

The Colombian tattoo artist has previously starred in a music video

Getty Images

This man sticks his split tongue through a hole in his chin

Getty Images

One punter lies as still as a board as artists tattoo his neck

Getty Images

This man looks incredibly relaxed as he listens to music while being tattooed

The event, which runs all weekend, also attracted lots of people who weren't already feeling their best selves/had space to spare for some new ink.

There were tattoo stations set up throughout the expo where local and international artists were able to etch their designs on to willing punters - with bum tattoos appearing to be a hot favourite amongst female visitors.

Getty Images

This girl had her face tattooed - but the lack of blood hints it might be a temporary henna design

Getty Images

A girl sits patiently as an artist works on a stunning sleeve design

Getty Images

This girl looked as if having a huge tattoo on her leg was as normal as popping out to buy bread

EPA

A girl admires her new wolf tattoo at the top of her leg

Getty Images

She keeps completely still as the tattoo artist gets to work on the back